מהוַיִּקְרָא פַרְעֹה שֵׁם יוֹסֵף צָפְנַת פַּעְנֵחַ וַיִּתֶּן לוֹ אֶת אָסְנַת בַּת פּוֹטִי פֶרַע כֹּהֵן אֹן לְאִשָּׁה וַיֵּצֵא יוֹסֵף עַל אֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם
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45 And Pharaoh named Joseph Zaphenath Pa'neach, and he gave him Asenath the daughter of Poti phera, the governor of On, for a wife, and Joseph went forth over the land of Egypt
Questions Why did Pharaoh Change Yosef’s name to Zaphenath Pa'neach? What is the significance of his new Name?
This is discussed in "Around The Shabbat Table" by Aryeh Ben David
Rashbam comments on this pasuk and says that Onkelus translates Zaphenath Pa'neach to mean someone who reveals hidden things. Pharaoh changes Yosefs name because it was an Egyptian name and it was common to change the name of a newly appointed official to what his job is. Similarly, Moshe changes Yehoshuas name when he is elected to become one of the spies and when Daniel was appointed his name was changed to בל טשצר
ReplyDeleteRabbimichaelsamuel.com says the reason Pharaoh changes Yosef’s name is so he would fit in better with Pharaoh's court and with all the Egyptian people. He says that the meaning of the name Zaphenath-Paneah is unclear. He says there are a lot of people who have tried to translate it, one being Ibn Ezra, who says it means revealer of secrets. He says some suggest that it is a Hebrew transcription of the Egyptian name that means “the god speaks and he lives”.
ReplyDeleteThe zohar explains the reason why paroh changes Yosefs name. Hashem wanted the brothers to bow down to Yosef, but they would not do it. Therefore Hashem made paroah change Yosefs name. When he changes his name, the brothers will not know who he is, therefore they will bow down to yosef.
ReplyDeleteLeora Adler
rikki grossman-
ReplyDeleterashi and rashbam say that his new name means "he who explains what is hidden" and since yosef explained what parish dreams are (that's what was hidden) it was fit to give him this name the artscroll tanach adds on and says that paroh customarily changes people who are in a high position to him new names and those names are always fitting to the person just like this one
Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel says that one opinion of what Yosef's new name meant is "the God speaks and he lives". Pharaoh saw that HaShem was with Yosef and he had divine powers which was a big factor in deciding to appoint Yosef such a high position, which is expressed in the name he chose for him.
ReplyDeleteRamban quotes the rishonim who say Paroh called Yosef this because he discerns hidden things which is a hebrew name paroh wsa either told my yosef or fluent in hebrew.
ReplyDeleteThe Daat Zkenim says that Paroh wanted all the people to understand how special Yosef is, so he gave him a name which was, in reality, an acronym. The name states that this is a man who resists unholy urges with partners who are legally forbidden to him. Paroh wanted all to stop accusing him of doing this sinful act by naming him purely as a declaration that the rumor is simply that.
ReplyDeleteRabbi Ari Ginsberg suggests that when the Ibn Ezra says: the new name given to yosef was an Egyptian name, he may have been showing us that yosef is viewed as an Egyptian and paraoh may now consider him on a closer level because of tge overlap in that they are both Egyptian. Arielle Borger
ReplyDeleteRabbi Samuels says that pharaoh changes Yosef's name so that way he will fir in with the Egyptian court and people. There is not one clear answer on what the name means. Some, like the Ibn Ezra, say his name was Egyptian. Others say it was a Hebrew translation of an Egyptian phrase.
ReplyDeleteThe Lubavitcher Rebbe explains that when the butler told pharaoh about Yosef, he was called a "Nar," implying he was immature and that he should not have a high level job. However, after pharaoh met Yosef, he thought differently, that he was a good man for the job. Therefore he changed his name, his name meant "explainer of hidden things"
ReplyDeleteThe Radak says that Pharaoh calls Yosef by this new name because it was Egyptian. Just like Nebuchadnezzar called Daniel by an Aramaic name, Pharaoh wants to call Yosef by an Egyptian name because he is second in command in Egypt.
ReplyDeleteMoshe Ben Chaim says: All three aspects are connected: When Yosef interpreted pharaohs dream, it was evident to pharaoh that he could cure the crisis anticipated. In order to place Yosef (someone accused of rape) on such a pedestal, he needed to quite those allegations. So - he assigned the daughter of Potifar as Yosefs wife. That way the accusations will not only stop, but assumed as lies. Lastly, he needed to change his name in order to remove the label Yosef had as "a hebrew slave". Pharaoh wanted him to be very egyptian, as Yosef will be second in command
ReplyDeleteShalva